Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island AdvanceRobert Dworkin, 55, was found dead in the crumbling Christmas Tree Inn in Prince's Bay.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The man found dead inside his room in a dilapidated Prince's Bay boarding house fell victim to his own chronic alcoholism, city officials ruled yesterday.

An autopsy revealed that Robert Dworkin, 55, died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, complicating chronic alcoholism, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner's office.

Dworkin was found Monday morning inside the crumbling Christmas Tree Inn at 51 Wilbur St.

Police believe he may have been dead for as long as three weeks, a law enforcement source familiar with the case said.

Dworkin's brother, Barry, a New Jersey resident, said Robert had "a history of mental illness, and he chose -- instead of taking the medicine, he took the bottle."

"I offered him help many, many times," Barry Dworkin said, but his brother would respond that he preferred to drink.

Robert Dworkin had lived at the inn for about 20 years, his brother said, and the two last spoke about a year ago.

"I saw it coming but there was nothing I could do," Barry Dworkin said.

Neighbors and police sources initially identified the man under an incorrect last name, Dawkins, and those sources had him listed as 45 years old, not 55.

The owner of the Christmas Tree Inn, Anthony Guddemi, plans to evict the remaining tenants from the run-down 22-room building and put up condominiums in its place.

One neighbor, Lori Smith, said Dworkin had been sick in recent weeks and his stomach had appeared bloated.

John Annese is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at annese@siadvance.com.